# 1978–79 San Antonio Spurs season

The 1978–79 San Antonio Spurs season was the Spurs' third season in the NBA and 12th season as a franchise.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 20 | Frankie Sanders | | United States | Southern |
| 3 | 64 | Gerald Henderson | PG | United States | Virginia Commonwealth |
| 4 | 86 | Rich Adams | | United States | Illinois |
| 5 | 108 | Eugene Parker | | United States | Purdue |
| 6 | 129 | Harry Morgan | | United States | Indiana State |
| 7 | 150 | Hector Olivencia | | United States | Sacred Heart |
| 8 | 168 | Henry Taylor | | United States | Texas-Pan American |
| 9 | 185 | Rick Taylor | | United States | Arizona State |
| 10 | 200 | Larry Brewster | | United States | Florida |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-San Antonio Spurs | 48 | 34 | .585 | – | 29–12 | 19–22 | 11–9 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 1 | 30–11 | 17–24 | 12–8 |
| x-Atlanta Hawks | 46 | 36 | .561 | 2 | 34–7 | 12–29 | 14–6 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 30 | 52 | .366 | 18 | 20–21 | 10–31 | 6–14 |
| Detroit Pistons | 30 | 52 | .366 | 18 | 22–19 | 8–33 | 9–11 |
| New Orleans Jazz | 26 | 56 | .317 | 22 | 21–20 | 8–33 | 9–15 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Washington Bullets | 54 | 28 | .659 | – |
| 2 | y-San Antonio Spurs | 48 | 34 | .585 | 6 |
| 3 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 7 |
| 4 | x-Houston Rockets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 7 |
| 5 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 46 | 36 | .561 | 8 |
| 6 | x-New Jersey Nets | 37 | 45 | .451 | 17 |
| 7 | New York Knicks | 31 | 51 | .378 | 23 |
| 8 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 30 | 52 | .366 | 24 |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | 30 | 52 | .366 | 24 |
| 10 | Boston Celtics | 29 | 53 | .354 | 25 |
| 11 | New Orleans Jazz | 26 | 56 | .317 | 28 |
    z - clinched division title
    y - clinched division title
    x - clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1978-79 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NOJ | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Boston | 2–2 | — | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| Chicago | 1–3 | 2–1 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| Cleveland | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| Denver | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | — | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 |
| Detroit | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 |
| Golden State | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Houston | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Indiana | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | — | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| Kansas City | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 |
| Los Angeles | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Milwaukee | 0–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| New Jersey | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| New Orleans | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–4 |
| New York | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| Phoenix | 1–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
| Portland | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| San Diego | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | — | 2–2 | 0–3 |
| Seattle | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 |
| Washington | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | — |

## Playoffs

1979 playoff game log :
Conference semifinals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 15
Philadelphia
W 119–106
Larry Kenon (30)
Billy Paultz (9)
Silas, Bristow (7)
HemisFair Arena 10,253
1–0
2
April 17
Philadelphia
W 121–120
George Gervin (29)
Larry Kenon (7)
Silas, Gale (8)
HemisFair Arena 16,709
2–0
3
April 20
@ Philadelphia
L 115–123
James Silas (32)
Larry Kenon (15)
Kenon, Gervin (5)
Spectrum 14,039
2–1
4
April 22
@ Philadelphia
W 115–112
George Gervin (32)
Larry Kenon (9)
Larry Kenon (6)
Spectrum 11,163
3–1
5
April 26
Philadelphia
L 97–120
James Silas (19)
Larry Kenon (9)
Silas, Gale (5)
HemisFair Arena 16,055
3–2
6
April 29
@ Philadelphia
L 90–92
James Silas (27)
Larry Kenon (15)
Mike Gale (6)
Spectrum 18,276
3–3
7
May 2
Philadelphia
W 111–108
George Gervin (33)
George Gervin (12)
Mark Olberding (7)
HemisFair Arena 16,055
4–3 :
Conference finals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 4
@ Washington
W 118–97
George Gervin (34)
Larry Kenon (21)
James Silas (4)
Capital Centre 19,035
1–0
2
May 6
@ Washington
L 95–115
Larry Kenon (25)
Larry Kenon (8)
Olberding, Dietrick (3)
Capital Centre 19,035
1–1
3
May 9
Washington
W 116–114
George Gervin (29)
Billy Paultz (12)
Kenon, Gale (5)
HemisFair Arena 15,318
2–1
4
May 11
Washington
W 118–102
George Gervin (42)
Larry Kenon (17)
Silas, Gale (6)
HemisFair Arena 16,055
3–1
5
May 13
@ Washington
W 103–107
George Gervin (28)
Mark Olberding (13)
James Silas (6)
Capital Centre 19,035
3–2
6
May 16
Washington
L 100–108
George Gervin (20)
Larry Kenon (15)
James Silas (7)
HemisFair Arena 16,055
3–3
7
May 18
@ Washington
L 105–107
George Gervin (42)
Larry Kenon (11)
James Silas (5)
Capital Centre 19,035
3–4 :
1979 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Ragular season

| Player | POS | GP | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Mike Gale | SG | 82 | 2,121 | 186 | 374 | 152 | 40 | 659 | 25.9 | 2.3 | 4.6 | 1.9 | .5 | 8.0 |
| Larry Kenon | PF | 81 | 2,947 | 790 | 335 | 154 | 19 | 1,791 | 36.4 | 9.8 | 4.1 | 1.9 | .2 | 22.1 |
| George Gervin | SF | 80 | 2,888 | 400 | 219 | 137 | 91 | 2,365 | 36.1 | 5.0 | 2.7 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 29.6 |
| Mark Olberding | PF | 80 | 1,885 | 429 | 211 | 53 | 18 | 755 | 23.6 | 5.4 | 2.6 | .7 | .2 | 9.4 |
| James Silas | PG | 79 | 2,171 | 183 | 273 | 76 | 20 | 1,266 | 27.5 | 2.3 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .3 | 16.0 |
| Billy Paultz | C | 79 | 2,122 | 625 | 178 | 35 | 125 | 912 | 26.9 | 7.9 | 2.3 | .4 | 1.6 | 11.5 |
| Mike Green | C | 76 | 1,641 | 354 | 116 | 37 | 122 | 571 | 21.6 | 4.7 | 1.5 | .5 | 1.6 | 7.5 |
| Coby Dietrick | C | 76 | 1,487 | 315 | 198 | 72 | 38 | 497 | 19.6 | 4.1 | 2.6 | .9 | .5 | 6.5 |
| Allan Bristow | SF | 74 | 1,324 | 247 | 231 | 56 | 15 | 472 | 17.9 | 3.3 | 3.1 | .8 | .2 | 6.4 |
| Louie Dampier | PG | 70 | 760 | 63 | 124 | 35 | 8 | 275 | 10.9 | .9 | 1.8 | .5 | .1 | 3.9 |
| Glenn Mosley | PF | 26 | 221 | 64 | 19 | 8 | 10 | 85 | 8.5 | 2.5 | .7 | .3 | .4 | 3.3 |
| Frankie Sanders$^†$ | SF | 22 | 263 | 59 | 35 | 14 | 3 | 132 | 12.0 | 2.7 | 1.6 | .6 | .1 | 6.0 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Spurs only.

### Playoffs

| Player | POS | GP | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Larry Kenon | PF | 14 | 557 | 160 | 42 | 20 | 1 | 295 | 39.8 | 11.4 | 3.0 | 1.4 | .1 | 21.1 |
| George Gervin | SF | 14 | 513 | 82 | 35 | 27 | 14 | 400 | 36.6 | 5.9 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 28.6 |
| James Silas | PG | 14 | 475 | 42 | 66 | 21 | 1 | 267 | 33.9 | 3.0 | 4.7 | 1.5 | .1 | 19.1 |
| Mark Olberding | PF | 14 | 359 | 69 | 33 | 12 | 5 | 111 | 25.6 | 4.9 | 2.4 | .9 | .4 | 7.9 |
| Mike Green | C | 14 | 350 | 73 | 11 | 13 | 36 | 110 | 25.0 | 5.2 | .8 | .9 | 2.6 | 7.9 |
| Mike Gale | SG | 14 | 302 | 29 | 56 | 16 | 4 | 95 | 21.6 | 2.1 | 4.0 | 1.1 | .3 | 6.8 |
| Coby Dietrick | C | 14 | 281 | 65 | 26 | 12 | 3 | 82 | 20.1 | 4.6 | 1.9 | .9 | .2 | 5.9 |
| Billy Paultz | C | 13 | 299 | 98 | 30 | 4 | 13 | 82 | 23.0 | 7.5 | 2.3 | .3 | 1.0 | 6.3 |
| Allan Bristow | SF | 13 | 163 | 27 | 28 | 9 | 5 | 56 | 12.5 | 2.1 | 2.2 | .7 | .4 | 4.3 |
| Louie Dampier | PG | 7 | 55 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 7.9 | .7 | 1.1 | .4 | .1 | 2.9 |
| Glenn Mosley | PF | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2.0 | .3 | .3 | .0 | .3 | 1.7 |

## Awards and records

* George Gervin, All-NBA First Team